Pump packing



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J. J. CULLINAN PUMP PACKING Filed March 11, 1922 l Cufowlmf.

JOHN 'd'. CULLENN, OFBRFORD, IPENNSYLWM PUMP PACKING'.

.application led Maren 11, 1922. Serial No. Matta.

To all whom t may eminem:

Be it known that ll, JOHN J. CULLINAN, a

` citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bradford, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pump Parkings, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to a packing for oil well pumps and is an improvement on the subject matter of my application No. LM0381, filed January 27th, 1921.

The primary object of my invention is to devise a packing of the type described which will give the maximum amount of wear, the eiiiciency thereof being as near one hundred per cent. during its entire life as` ossible. llt is common knowledge thata was er used in connection withan 0ilwell pump is subject to very strenuous use because of the sand, grit and other foreign material which is carried by the fluid being pumped, and it is therefore necessary that a substantial material be used from which the packing is made, and that said packing should be of such a design as to insure absolute contact with the walls of the cylinder within which the piston reciprocates in order that there shall be no leakage past.

My invention consists essentially 1n providing a packing composed of a plurality of segments which are held within suitable means to prevent displacement relative to eac-h other, said holding means being of such a character as to allow a limited movement between the segments in order that a firm grip may be secured against the walls of the cylinder. Various means and instrumentalities have been arranged to facilitate this action, which will be described more in detail as the specification proceeds.

ln the drawings ll have illustrated one embodiment of my preferred form of device which has been found satisfactory and which it is thought serves the purpose of illustration as required by law. llt is to be understood that these drawings are merely for the purpose of illustrating the working principle, and are not to be construed in a limiting sense,`as obviously many modications of the example shown may be practiced, and still fall within the scope ofthe claims.

1n these drawings: A

Fig. 1 is an assembled view of one form of 4device partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a detailsectional view showing a plurality of segment' assemblies.

3 is a view on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view on the line d--aof Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view showingthe various elements of a segment assembly.

Fig. 7 is a detail of a plurality of seg- I l ments showing the interlocking feature;

Fig. 8 is a detail of a segment.

ln this preferred form of device l provide a hollow piston spindle having means at one end for attaching a one-way valve which in devices of this character is usually of the ball and socket type. Loosely fitting the spindle l provide a series of segment assemblies which include ay holding means .therefor, as it may be found desirable to have a plurality of such devices in order to insure the maximum amount offlifting action of the pump. These assemblies comprise metallic segments having suitable locking means between themselves which, if desired, may also have additional elements overlapping their joining edges and a lead or rubber washer interiorly disposed, both of these latter members in a great many `instances tending to make the device more efficient. Each segment member has a reduced lower extremity which fits into a cup like element of a diameter which will allow reciprocation within the cylinder vwithin which the piston assembly operates with the minimum amount of friction. The segment members are fitted loosely within this cup element in order that there may be a certain amount of movement of the former members toward the wall of the cylinder, so that on the upstroke of the piston assembly the fluid being pumped will exert pressure upon the inner face of the segments, forcing them outwardly against the cylinder wall, thus insuring a non-return of' the pumped fluid.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings, ll have designated the cylinder within which the piston assembly reciprocates at 1, the Vhollow piston spindle being shown at 2, being provided at its upper end with a non-return valve housing 3, within which a ball a seats to open and close the aperture in the head of the spindle member., rl`his housing is attached preferabl by means of screw threads to an enlarge por-a tion 5 on the head of the hollow` spindle member, which enlarged portion has a furlill) lll@ ther reduced portion for aipurpose more fully hereinafter described.

The washer proper comprises segments 6 of comparatively soft metal shown to be three in number, although -obviously any number may be found desirable, depending on circumstances. Each segment is provided with interlocking portions 7 which lit within a corresponding slot 8 in its fellow, and if found desirable, a member 9 may be secured to the inner face of each segment to overlap the joint between segments, which will more eii'ectively retain the fluid being pumped on the inner face of the segment and prevent the same from leaking past the segment joints. The segments are further provided with a reduced downwardly extending portion 10 which is tapered downwardly on its inner face in order that a rocking movement may be secured, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The cup or retaining member 11 comprises a portion embracing thehollow piston 1, having an enlarged upper extremity 12, the piston embracing portion 11 continuing upwardly and extending above the enlarged portion 12, forming an annular channel therebetween, within which the downwardly extending portion of the segments are socketed. The tapered inner face of the downwardly extending portion of the segments allow the segments to have a rocking motion with the top of the enlarged portion 12 as a pivot, the upper extremity of the segment moving towards the cylinder wall, the downwardly extending portion moving inwardly toward the upwardly extending portion 11. The segments are entirely supported upon the upper edge of the enlarged portion 12 of the cup member in lorder to insure a ready rocking movement.

A washer of suitable material 13 is provided, having an inwardly extending liange which is adapted to seat upon the upper edge of the upwardly extending portion 11 of the cup member, being held in that position by the downwardly extending portion 11 of the cup member included in the washer assembly next above. Each segment member is also provided with a {la-nge 14 on its upper edge which serves to retain the washer in place. The washer member serves the purpose of preventing any pumped uid from escaping backwardly through the abutting edges of the upwardly extending member 411 and the downwardly extending edge of the member 11 next above. As clearly shown in the drawings, the top of the segments terminates short of the enlarged portion 12 of the cup means, in order to allow the pumped Huid to enter the space and act upon the inner face of the segments, thus forcin them outwardly against the wall of the cy inder.

It will be readily apparent that the washer member 13' is entirely sup orted by the upwardly extending edge o the part l1, yet contacting with the inner face of the segments,nthus tending to prevent leakage of the pumped'fluid past the joints therebetween.

The lowermost washer assembly is provided with a cup member in which the downwardly extending portion 11 has been eliminated, a screw-threaded nut 16 being applied to the end of the piston spindle which securely holds the various washer assemblies in position, and the piston is then complete and ready for attachment to the ordinary` piston rod as used with these devices.

I claim: 1. A packing for pump pistons .comprising segments, means for retaining said segments about a piston, said segments being supported uon said retaining means intermediate the eight of the segments.

2. The device of claim 1, said segments having a reduced portion, the upper part of which includes a plane, said upper part being seated upon the retaining means.

3. A packing for pump pistons comprising segments, means for retaining said segments about a piston under radial pressure, the

relation of the segments and retaining means being such that the segments may be bodily moved in a radial direction toward the pump barrel, contactingtherewith in a cylindric" surface.

4. A packing forl pump pistons including segments, and flexible means covering segment joints to allow relative movement between segments, yet maintaining an elfective Huid seal between segment joints.

5. A packing for pump pistons including segments, means between segments allowing radial movement thereof to prevent fluid escape downwardly past segment joints, and additional means overlapping segment joints to prevent outward fluid escape therebetween, said latter means bearing against the former means.

6. The device of claim 5, said outward fluid escape preventing means abutting the interior face of the downward fluid escape preventing means.

7. The device of claim 5, with additional means to press the two fluid escape preventing means into engagement.

8. A packing for pump pistons including segments, means between segments allowing radial movement thereof to prevent Huid escapedownwardly past segment joints, and additional means overlapping segment joints to prevent outward fluid escape therebetween, the former means entering a slot in an adjacent segment, said latter means entirely covering said slot when said entering means is withdrawn therefrom. j

9. A packing for pump pistonsincluding segments, means fo; retaining the segments gli about a piston, and a flexible Washer member seated on the retaining means.

10. The device of claim 9, said segments being provided with means to retain said Washer Within the assembly.

11. a packing for pump pistons including segments adapted to be moved radially by the Weightof iiuid being pumped, and means intermediate said segments and said fluid to transmit the force therefrom to the segments.

12. The device of claim 11, said intermediate means including a flexible member.

13. The device of claim 1l, said intermediate means including a member having an inwardly projecting lange.

14. 'l`l1e device of claim 11, said intermediate means including a member the outer surface of which is in Contact with said segments.

l5. A packing for pump pistons including segments, means for retaining segments about a piston, and a Washer adjacent segment retaining means.

1G. The device of claim 15, said retaining means being seated on said Washer.

1'?. A packing for pump pistons comprising a plurality ot units, eacli unit including segments, with means to retain said segments about a piston, the retaining means of one unit extending Within tbe segments of its adjacent unit.

18. A packing for pump pistons comprising a plurality of units, eacii unit including segments, means to retain the segments about a piston, said segments being spaced apart from and overlapping retaining means of the adjacent unit.

19. A packing :tor pump pistons comprising a plurality of units, each unit including segments, individual means to retain tbe segments of eacli unit about a piston, said retaining means of each unit having portions in proximity to each other.

20. The device of claim 18, said adjacent portions abutting said spacing means.

21. The device or" claim 18, said spacing` means including a flexible member, Whereby fiuid is prevented from passing between the adjacent portions.

22. A packing for pump pistons comprising a plprality of units, cooperating means included in eacli unit whereby iiuid being pumped is prevented from leaking between units.

23. in combination a pump barrel, a hollow piston, a packing for tbe pump piston Within the barrel comprising segments, means :tor retaining sai segments about the piston, said means extending between tbe segments and said barrel, said segments being adapted to be pressed outwardly by the force of the liquid and forming a liquidtight joint with the pump barrel.

2a. packing for pump pistons comprising segments, means for retaining said segments about a piston, said means having an upstanding Wall, said segments being supported upon said Wall.

25. A packing for pump pistons comprising a plurality of units, each unit including segments, individual means to retain tbe segments of eacli unit about a piston, said retaining means et each unit liaving portions in proximity to each other, and means to space said portions 'from each other.

lin testimony whereof, l acix my signature.

@EN Ji. CUlJlbliNAN. 

